If I revolt, off goes young George's head; Chris. At Pembroke, or at Ha'rford-west, in Wales. Chris. Sir Walter Herbert, a renowned soldier; Stan. Well, hie thee to thy lord; commend me to him; Tell him, the queen hath heartily consented He shall espouse Elizabeth her daughter. These letters will resolve him of my mind. [Gives papers to Sir CHRIS. Exeum. ACT V. 'SCENE I.—Salisbury. An open place. Enter the Sherif, and guard, with BUCKINGHAM, led to execution. Buckingham. WILL not king Richard let me speak with him? Sher. No, my good lord; therefore be patient. Buck. Hastings, and Edward's children, Rivers, Grey, Holy king Henry, and thy fair son Edward, Vaughan, and all that have miscarried By underhand, corrupted, foul injustice; If that your moody discontented souls Do through the clouds behold this present hour, Even for revenge mock my destruction! This is All-Souls' day, fellows, is it not? Sher. It is, my lord. Buck. Why, then All-Souls' day is my body's doomsday. This is the day, which, in king Edward's time, I wish'd might fall on me, when I was found False to his children, or his wife's allies. This is the day, wherein I wish'd to fall [1] This scene should, in my opinion, be added to the foregoing Act, so the fourth Act will have a more full and striking conclusion, and the fifth Act will comprise the business of the important day, which put an end to the competition of York and Lan easter. JOHNSON. By the false faith of him whom most I trusted; Come, sirs, convey me to the block of shame ; SCENE II. Plain near Tamworth. Enter, with drum and colours, RICHMOND, OXFORD, Sir JAMES BLUNT, Sir WALTER HERBERT, and others, with forces, marching. Rich. Fellows in arms, and my most loving friends, Bruis'd underneath the yoke of tyranny, Thus far into the bowels of the land Have we march'd on without impediment ; And here receive we from our father Stanley Lines of fair comfort and encouragement. The wretched, bloody, and usurping boar, That spoil'd your summer fields, and fruitful vines, Swills your warm blood like wash, and makes his trough In your embowell'd bosoms, this foul swine Lies now even in the centre of this isle, Near to the town of Leicester, as we learn : In God's name, cheerly on, courageous friends, By this one bloody trial of sharp war. Oxf. Every man's conscience is a thousand swords, To fight against that bloody homicide. Herb. I doubt not, but his friends will turn to us. Blunt. He hath no friends, but who are friends for fear; Which, in his dearest need, will fly from him. Rich. All for our vantage. Then, in God's name, march: True hope is swift, and flies with swallows' wings, [Exe. Bosworth Field. SCENE III. Enter King RICHARD, and forces; the Duke of NORFOLK, Earl of SURREY, and others. K.Ric. Here pitch our tents, even here in Bosworth field. -My lord of Surrey, why look you so sad? Sur. My heart is ten times lighter than my looks. Nor. Here, most gracious liege. K.Rich. Norfolk, we must have knocks; Ha! must we not? Nor. Six or seven thousand is their utmost power. [Exeunt. Enter, on the other side of the field, RICHMOND, Sir WILLIAM BRANDON, OXFORD, and other lords. Some of the Soldiers pitch RICHMOND's tent. Rich. The weary sun hath made a golden set, And, by the bright track of his fiery car, Gives token of a goodly day to-morrow.- 7 E Blunt. Unless I have mista'en his colours much, (Which, well I am assur'd, I have not done,) His regiment lies half a mile at least South from the mighty power of the king. Rich. If without peril it be possible, Sweet Blunt, make some good means to speak with him, And give him from me this most needful note. Blunt. Upon my life, my lord, I'll undertake it; And so, God give you quiet rest to-night! Rich. Good night, good captain Blunt. Come, gentlemen, Let us consult upon to-morrow's business; In to my tent, the air is raw and cold. [They withdraw into the tent. Enter, to his tent, King RICHARD, NORFOLK, RATCLIFF, and CATESBY. K. Rich. What is't o'clock ? Cate. It's supper time, my lord; It's nine o'clock. K. Rich. I will not sup to-night.— Give me some ink and paper. What, is my beaver easier than it was? And all my armour laid into my tent? Cate. It is, my liege; and all things are in readiness. K. Rich. Good Norfolk, hie thee to thy charge; Use careful watch, choose trusty sentinels. Nor. I go, my lord. K. Rich. Stir with the lark to-morrow, gentle Norfolk. Nor. I warrant you, my lord. K. Rich. Ratcliff, Rat. My lord? K. Rich. Send out a pursuivant at arms To Stanley's regiment; bid him bring his power [Exit. Fill me a bowl of wine.-Give me a watch :3 [To CAT. [3] A watch has many significations, but I should believe that it means in this place not a sentinel, which would be regularly placed at the king's tent; nor an instrument to measure time, which was not used in that age, but a watch-light, a candle to burn by him; the light that afterwards burnt blue. JOHNSON. I believe, that particular kind of candle is here meant, which was anciently called a watch, because, being marked out into sections, each of which was a certain portion of time in burning, it supplied the place of the more modern instruments by which we measure the hours. -STEEVENS. [4] Stuves are the wood of the lances. JOHNSON. ** Rat. My lord? K. Rich. Saw'st thou the melancholy lord Northumber land ? Rat. Thomas the earl of Surrey, and himself, I have not that alacrity of spirit, Nor cheer of mind, that I was wont to have.- K. Rich. Bid my guard watch; leave me. [King RICHARD retires into his tent. Exe. RATC. and CATE. RICHMOND'S tent opens, and discovers him and his officers. Enter STANLEY. Stan. Fortune and victory sit on thy helm ! Tell me, how fares our loving mother? 6 Stan. I, by attorney, bless thee from thy mother, Farewell: The leisure and the fearful time Which so long-sunder'd friends should dwell upon; Once more, adieu :-Be valiant, and speed well! [6] By deputation. JOHNSON [7] I will take the best opportunity to elude the dangers of this conjuncture. JOHN |